Mark 4:14-20 Teaches us the importance the Word of God place in regards with how the Kingdom of God works.  In the natural realm, if you do not prepare the ground and plant, don’t be surprised if nothing grows.

• When a person has a beautiful garden you will know that they have put effort in that.
• According to what is growing in your life, I can see what seeds you have planted, even if I wasn’t present when you planted the seeds.

In the spiritual realm people wonder:  "Why am I not getting healed, having prosperity, answered prayer, why does my relationships fall apart?"  But they did not TAKE THE WORD OF GOD and the PROMISES and SOWED IT IN THEIR LIVES.

• To not know the Word of God is like not planting but expecting a harvest.
• The reason people don’t live in victory is because they are not PLANTING THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD in their hearts.
• If you take THE SEED OF GOD and PLANT IT IN YOUR HEART, you will LITERALLY RECEIVE SUPERNATURAL MIRACLES AND HARVEST. (Psalm 107:20) He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction.

The Kingdom of God works like this

• The Kingdom of God works on the principle of the WORD OF GOD that just like seed YOU MUST PLANT IT IN YOUR LIFE.
• The Word of God must become ALIVE TO YOU. It must be a REVELATION.
• It is not the ground itself that produces fruit, but the SEED.
• The ground does play a role.  The ground can allow the seed to fully grow or it can hinder the WORD OF GOD from doing his work.

HEART NUMBER 1 

Hear the Word but is not focused on God. (Mk 4:15)  (Mt 13:19) 

• The Word does not enter his heart.
• Normally such a person does not see his own sinfulness and need for a Saviour.
• UNDERSTANDING let the word sink in.  If you don’t have understanding, you will not apply it.  You have to hunger and thirst after righteousness. 
• It is not God but you that determines the condition of your heart. 

HEART NUMBER 2

Is excited about the Word, but have no root to fasten Word in life.  (Mark 4:16-17)

• Demonstrative in their "religion" perhaps, but no depth.
• Some are very excited and you think it is awesome they have changed, but it is ALL SHOW AND NO GO.  There is no real commitment in their hearts.
• If the seed is shallow it looks good on the surface, but they haven’t grown deep enough to grow strong roots, they have no real nutritional value. 
• When the first trouble come, their hearts are not truly committed to the Word of God. 

HEART NUMBER 3

Is excited about the Word and it starts to grow, but then comes the riches and  desires of the world and it takes the Word of God away. (Mk 4:18-19)

• What is killing the Word of God in our lives?  Being constantly busy, even with the things that aren’t sin. 
• Weed grows all around the beautiful flowers in the garden and stops these plants from getting all the right nutrition.

HEART NUMBER 4 

This person takes care of the seed, his attention is not being led astray.  (Mark 4:26-27) 

• Every time you meditate and plant seed in your heart you are starting a process of growth that cannot be stopped.
• God has enough seed in His Word that when you plant it in your heart and cultivate it, you get advantages from that Word 10, 20, 30 years later.
• (Mark 4:27) SLEEP – it takes time. 
• When the Word of God works you don’t always see the full manifestation of it immediately.
• It is a growth process.  You cannot jump immediately to where you want to be.
• To the measure that you put time in to seek God will determine the measure of your growth.

• Tribulation. (Matt 13:21)
• Temptation. (Luk 8:13)
• Persecution.(Mark 4:17)

With the Word in our lives (Lk 6:46-49) we can expect our life structure to weather the storms and challenges of life. 

(Acts 2:42) They steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.  Compromising in any of these very important areas causes us to struggle in our walk with the Lord.